Maharashtra Elections: Family Ties Secures Ticket In BJP's First List

The BJP on Sunday announced first list of 99 candidates for the forthcoming Maharashtra Assembly elections. In the list, fresh faces tracing family ties is finding space in the electoral fray. Some of the prominent names in this regard include jailed MLA Ganpat Gaikwad’s wife Sulbha Gaikwad, Bandra West MLA Ashish Shelar and his brother Vinod Shelar (for Malad West).

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Sulbha Gaikwad is contesting from Kalyan East. Gaikwad is in jail for allegedly shooting at Kalyan Sena chief Mahesh Gaikwad at an Ulhasnagar police station in February. Her nomination has also raised speculations since she was also in talks with the Opposition Shiv Sena led by Uddhav Thackeray for a party seat.

Amol Jawale is former BJP MP Haribhau Jawale’s son. In the upcoming polls, he will contest from Raver constituency in Jalgaon district. As per the reports, Jawale was upset over fielding Raksha Khadse for a third time from the Raver Lok Sabha seat.

Meanwhile, former Congress chief minister-turned-BJP MP Ashok Chavan’s daughter Shrijaya is contesting her maiden assembly election from the Bhokar constituency in Nanded district.

The saffron party has refused to give party ticket to Chinchwad MLA, Ashwini Jagtap, who was elected in a by elections conducted last year after the death of her husband Laxman Jagtap. But her brother-in-law Shankar Jagtap will receive party ticket.

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The BJP has fielded Pratibha Pachpute, wife of sitting MLA Babanrao Pachpute for the Shrigonda seat in Ahmednagar district.

Maharashtra goes to polls on November 20.